Are spiralizers a foodie fad? Here’s why we – and Nigella (!) – vouch for this kitchen tool

They’re perfect if you’re looking for a new way to enjoy veggies…

Spiralizers from ProCook, OXO and more.

by Piper Huxley |
Published on

Let’s be honest, you’ve probably already heard of a spiraliser. You may have even seen one in action. But, in case you haven’t, they’re a fabulous kitchen gadget that cut veggies into long, ribbon-like strands. They’re a great pasta alternative, too, helping gluten-free friends feel included on spaghetti night.

Even celeb chef (and icon) Nigella loves using a spiraliser. Though she isn’t convinced that courgette noodles (or “zoodles”) are a great swap for a hearty bowl of spaghetti, she is open to using a spiraliser to find new ways to enjoy veggies. If you’ve read her book, At My Table, we’re sure you’ve seen her fantastic “shoe-string fries” recipe, requiring a spiralizing tool to hand. Combined with an air fryer, this could make a formidable (and healthy) side dish or snack.

Best spiralizers at a glance

Perhaps, you may be thinking: do I actually need a spiraliser? Good question. If you feel as if you could broaden your veggie horizons, sure, a spiralizer would make a great addition to your kitchen tool set. You’d be equipped for any spiralizing emergency, that’s for sure. We’d recommend making Nigella’s shoe-string fries for making a carb-free bowl of zoodles – but, don't limit yourself. Peek at BBC Good Food’s spiralizer recipes, which range from bhajis to frittata to summer salad bowls.

Best spiralizers for your kitchen

It could make a great gift for a foodie...

Best spiralizer

ProCook SpiralizerProCook
Price: £20 (RRP £27)

www.procook.co.uk

Revolutionise your veggies with our top pick: ProCook's Spiralizer. This way, you can introduce more fruits and vegetables into your diet - which helps support a healthy lifestyle. We love this spiralizer as it is well-priced, comes from a premium and trusted brand, and will inspire creativity in the kitchen. Better yet, it's made from heavy-duty stainless steel (yay) and offers two blades for your choice in spiral strands. Plus, the base is safe and sturdy. No zoodle-related accidents here.

From over 200 reviews, this spiralizer is well-loved by customers for its quality and value. One customer says it's "nice and sturdy" - and likes that it comes in two different-sized blades, which makes it a versatile and user-friendly pick. Another says they love using it for courgette and says it is a creative way to use this veggie up. Customers recommend spiralising courgette and chucking the zoodles in the air fryer. Yummy. However, some find it a little tricky to clean.

Pros

  • Heavy duty and stainless steel spiralizer for hard veggies
  • Choose between two blades for thick or thin "spaghetti"
  • Non-slip suction cups help secure it to the work surface

Cons

  • Some find it a little tricky to clean.
Size11 x 3.5 x 26 cm
Weight600 g
FeaturesTwo interchangeable blades
MaterialStainless steel, plastic
SuitabilityNot dishwasher safe
Guarantee1 Year

Budget pick

Handheld Spiralizer in SageProCook
Price: £5 (RRP £10)

www.procook.co.uk

Healthy and delicious meals are guaranteed with this handheld spiralizer. Featuring three blades and four different spiral strand sizes, it's a versatile pick to spruce up ordinary pasta dishes or summer salads. We love that the Handheld Spiralizer in Sage from ProCook is portable, as well as easy to use and store. If you're like us, appliances and gadgets are fighting for space in our kitchen cupboards - so, this spiralizer is a budget-friendly choice for smaller kitchens. Brilliant.

Though not teaming with reviews, this Handheld Spiralizer in Sage from ProCook is said to be a little nifty little gadget. One customer says their kids now eat raw cucumber and carrots because the spiralizer has made veggies so fun! Isn't that great to hear? Not only that but it's said to be super easy to use and clean. However, it not be as efficient as other picks on our list

Pros

  • Makes delicious veggie spirals and thicker ribbons
  • Easy to clean in the dishwasher on the top shelf
  • Small, portable, easy to use and store in your kitchen

Cons

  • May not be as efficient as other picks on our list
Size9 x 10 cm
Weight107 g
FeaturesFour Interchangeable spiral strand sizes
MaterialStainless steel, plastic
SuitabilityDishwasher safe on top shelf only
Guarantee1 Year

Best handheld spiralizer

OXO Good Grips Handheld SpiralizerOXO / Amazon
Price: £17.99
Alternative retailers
Macy's$17.99View offer
QVC$17.99View offer
OXO$17.99View offer
Scheels$17.99View offer

Thanks to the OXO Good Grips Handheld Spiralizer, you can cut vegetables into curly noodles with ease. It's a small gadget—perfect for fitting in your kitchen cupboards—but it's also super easy to use and can store your spiralised masterpieces. The open-blade design accommodates most veggies from long courgettes to round potatoes - and will keep your hands safe. If you're looking for a compact, budget-friendly and safe option you can't go wrong with OXO.

Customers like how easy this OXO Spiralizer is to use. From over 5,000 reviews, this pick is well-liked, earning a respectable 4.1/5 average star rating. They mention that it's simple to use and works well for what is expected. Compact in design, it's great for smaller spaces, too. One customer calls themselves a "complete convert" to zoodles. Another says they had a "job" deciding which spiralizer is best for them, and chose this pick for its simplicity and how easy it is to clean. However, some customers disagree with the value of money.

Pros

  • Great for curly fries, frittatas, hash browns and salad garnishes
  • Comfy spiralizer keeps hands safe and doubles as storage
  • Stylish in design and dishwasher safe for an easy clean

Cons

  • Some customers disagree on the value for money
Size8.8 x 7.6 cm
Weight158 g
FeaturesEasy grip
MaterialStainless steel
SuitabilityDishwasher safe
GuaranteeUnspecified.

Best for functionality

Joseph Joseph Spiro Vegetable SpiralizerJoseph Joseph / Amazon

Rrp: £17.99

Price: £15.00
Alternative retailers
Walmart$24.99View offer

Enter Joseph Joseph's Spiro Vegetable Spiralizer - isn't it lovely? Self-containing, this pick keeps mess to a minimum and makes an easy job out of crafting noodles for tea. You can spiralize lots of veggies and even some fruit with this pick, thanks to its three blade variations - coarse, fine and a rotary grating blade for versatility. Fabulous! Plus, it comes with a soft grip handle, making it super easy to use and your veggie noodles look immaculate. What's not to love?

From over 1,500 reviews, this Joseph Joseph spiralizer is a great pick for all kitchens. Not only is it compact and easy to use, but it's perfect for adding interest to your food. One customer commented that their last spiralizer was huge and messy - and much prefers this model. Though small, it's easy to use and you can "get some huge spirals out of it". A very good purchase, thanks to its functionality - you can grate cheese, too! However, some found it tricky to clean.

Pros

  • Includes rotary grating, coarse and fine spiralizer blades
  • Easy to use with self-aligning design and soft grip handle
  • Container base collects your delicious noodles as you cut

Cons

  • Some found it tricky to clean
Size16 x 7.8 x 7.6 cm
Weight209g
FeaturesRotary grating, coarse and fine spiralizer blades
MaterialStainless steel
SuitabilityDishwasher safe (top shelf up to 50°C)
GuaranteeUnspecified.

Best slice and spiral set

OXO Good Grips Spiralize Grate & Slice SetAmazon / OXO

Rrp: £36.95

Price: £20.50
Alternative retailers
Walmart$32.95View offer
OXO$36.99View offer

With non-slip feet to keep the container steady, this OXO Good Grips Spiralize Grate & Slice Set is a super safe addition to our list. It's a great three-in-one tool for quick meal prep. Yes - it's not just a spiralizer. It's a grater (coarse and medium) and a slicer - to prep veggies and snacks with no effort. Plus, the container collects the food - yay, no mess! - and doubles as a lid for a neat set.

Customers like this OXO spiralizer - not only is it said to be easy to use, but it's good quality and super functional. One customer is surprised that they use it every day, now, and says that "every blade is useful" and that the slicer is particularly great. Another says it's easy to use, wash and though a little pricey, worth every penny. It fits together into a neat and tiny little case. However, some customers differ on the blade sharpness of this space-saving kit.

Pros

  • Spiralizer, slicer, medium grater and coarse grater in one handy tool
  • A secure and comfy grip, with a non-slip base and feet for safety in use
  • Compact and stylish kitchen gadget for all households and diets

Cons

  • Some customers differ on the blade sharpness
Size27 x 10.4 x 11.7 cm
Weight100 g
FeaturesSpiraliser, medium and coarse graters and slicer
MaterialBPA free
SuitabilityDishwasher and microwave-safe
GuaranteeUnspecified.

Best value spiralizer

Brieftons 5-Blade Veggie SpiralizerAmazon
Price: £29.99

Transform fresh veggies into noodle-like strands for the yummiest, low-carb meals. The Brieftons 5-Blade Veggie Spiralizer works with a variety of fruits and veggies, from apples to carrots to cabbage and courgettes. Even sliced results? No problem. This spiralizer can handle super-sized vegetables - thanks to its tough, stainless steel blades - and make those fabulous ribbons for your veg-heavy diet. It's compact, safe and easy to clean, too.

Many reviews agree that the functionality, ease of use and quality are this product's strong points. One customer loves that it can even "cope with solid butternut squashes". Not only does it attach firmly to a worktop (super safe), but it also spiralizes perfectly. Yes - the blades were super sharp, so be mindful. Customers differ on the ease of cleaning.

Pros

  • Made with hardened Japanese stainless steel blades for sharpness
  • Access lots of recipes for low-carb, gluten-free and veggie dishes
  • Complete spiralizing bundle- with five blades for different noodles

Cons

  • Customers differ on the ease of cleaning
Size26.9 x 12.4 x 20.1 cm
Weight950 g
FeaturesFive different blades
MaterialStainless steel, ABS plastic
SuitabilityDishwasher safe
GuaranteeUnspecified.

How we chose the best spiralizers

Yours Magazine chose spiralizers based on key factors such as budget, versatility, ease of use and overall performance. We looked at customer reviews, style and features, from a versatile range of functions to how user-friendly it is. This way, we were able to find the very best spiralizers (at the very best price) for every kitchen, diet, and household. Easy.

For more on how we choose and test, take a peek at our How We Test section.

Electric vs. Manual: which is best?

We've written a simple guide to help you pick the right spiralizer for your kitchen.

Electric spiralizers are a great option for speed, convenience and if you're prepping large batches often. They turn veggies into spirals with little to no effort. They're a safe choice for larger households who can't get enough of zoodle night (!)

Manual spiralizers - on the other hand - offer a little more control and thickness in shape. Plus, they're much more affordable than their electric counterparts, and won't cost anything to run. Manual spiralizers are much more geared towards occasional use.

Spiralizer FAQs

What type of spiraliser is best for hard veggies?

If you're looking to conquer Nigela's spiralizer fries for your weekly chippy tea, you'll need something a little more heavy-duty. For harder veggies (such as carrots and sweet potatoes), your spiralizer will need to own durable and sharp blades, preferably made of steel. Not only that, your chosen spiralizer will need a solid, non-slip base to avoid any accidents.

For tougher veggies, opt for a manual (and high-quality) countertop model.

Can I spiralize fruit, or is this tool just for vegetables?

Yes – you can spiralize firmer fruit for very cool salad, garnishes and inventive desserts. We recommend spiralizing pears and apples; remember to avoid mushy fruits (and veggies). Aren't veggie recipes the best?

Do handheld spiralizers require a lot of force to use?

Yes - manual spiralizers require a little elbow grease to get great results. If you're not up to the challenge, kitchen-top manual or electric spiralizers will make light work of crafting zoodles from scratch.

Piper Huxley is a Homes and Lifestyle Product Writer for Yours. She will write on anything from décor to beauty. When not scouring the net for the best home bargains, Piper is snuggled up reading in bed, listening to music, or enjoying a cup of tea. Sometimes all at once. If she’s not chilling out, Piper – a massive foodie – is probably cooking up a storm in the kitchen…

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